PagesPat's Ponderings

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Why, just go out and GARDEN!!
This year I finally got my garden. Earlier this week I dug out the grass up against the garage and dumped a huge (smelly) amount of compost on the area. Then I tried to border it with this white lattice that was left over from our home construction last year. As you can see, it is NOT working. The first big rain and my garden will be up against the neighbor's fence.
Today, I bought my tomato plants. I planted Sweet Cherry tomatoes, Beefsteaks, Romas, Salsa Hybrids, Early Girls, Best Boys and a couple mystery plants (they had no labels). Next year I will purchase according to which ones grow best this year. (Does this mean that if my favorites are the mystery tomatoes that I should buy those with no labels? Hmm...)
What is it about gardening that is so relaxing? Is it feeling the dirt in your hands? No, I wore rubberized gloves - I'm not touching that manure-laden compost). Maybe it's knowing that one is growing one's own food. It's certainly NOT saving money by doing so. I spent a ton on the compost, the plants, and now the wood that will replace the cheap lattice.
No, I think it's just the mindfulness of the work. The digging, the pulling, the weeding, the watering, the sweating, the harvesting, the being in the sunshine and counting the buds on each plant. If I weren't so allergic to most flowers, my whole yard would be a garden. But I will be very satisfied to grow my own tomatoes this year. If all goes well, I may branch out to strawberries next summer...

Monday, May 15, 2017

Good evening, crafters! Have you ever tried a new technique and didn't like the finished product? Have you ever passed up a challenge because the requirement was something you had very little luck in? Of course you have! We all have.

Art is not a destination but a journey, and every journey comes with its bumps and detours. Trying new things, taking a different artistic path, is how we grow in creativity. Last year I tried water colors for the first time. For every painting I revealed to the crafting world, there were four others that I threw away.

I should not have felt awkward sharing my learning experience. Everyone has to start somewhere. Nobody is perfect, but we all strive for perfection. I have finally learned to forget perfection and enjoy the ride. Whether my art is a masterpiece or it becomes a great way for starting the campfire, I enjoy every minute of learning something new and creating something handmade.

Which leads me to my latest DT projects for the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. I have the honor of showing TWO projects today. I have created something with each of two guest sponsors this month. My first project is something I've never made before - a Theater Box, using a digital image from Imagine That! Digis by Kris.

Last week I had never even heard of a theater box. But I was flipping through a book I snagged at a rummage sale about book binding. I loved the dimensional presentation of it. Of course I had to put my own spin on it. I have a friend who is home-bound who lives in another state. We write back and forth a lot, and she loves my handmade cards. I decided I wanted to send her a theater box. However, they are made entirely from paper and I was wary of its safety on the journey from my house to hers. So I came up with this "mail-able" theater box by using an acrylic box.

My book has four distinct layers from back to front. My background layer is a scenic paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' Chasing Rainbows Kit. The next layer is a scenic background paper from Krysty Scrap Designs' Boring Evening paper kit, care of The Doll House (MischiefCircus.com). Layer 3 is the digital image "Well Wishes" from Imagine That! And to finish off the scene, I printed a border of flowers that look very much like those at the base of the well, coloring in pond of sorts.

Next up is a card I created using a digi image from Pickled Potpourri called Well Wishes.

I bought a set of chalks a million years ago (okay, no quite that long ago) but after one use, it went into my closet. Being a hoarder of all things crafty or alterable, it was soon lost in the black hole of forgotten tools and supplies. In a fit of Spring craft room Cleaning, I recently dug into my closet and found those same chalks (in pristine condition).
I decided to give the chalks another go, using them to create the background of my card as well as color this cute little frog.Pickled Potpourri is another sponsor this month at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.

My projects are perfect examples of this month's optional challenge theme of "Present, Not Perfect." Don't you think there is something to these words that is so positive and liberating? They allow us to relax and enjoy the process without worrying about the outcome.

in order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes, ALL creations must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. You don't need to follow the optional theme if you simply want to have a chance at the Random Draw prize of a $7 gift certificate from Pickled Potpourri. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize for Most Inspirational with a prize of a $10 gift certificate to Imagine That! store. In addition, each person chosen as Most Inspirational by the DT will receive one digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots.
So what creativity have you been hiding from the world? What are you ready to try for the first time or had bad luck with previously? Who is struggling to find their path and needs a little handmade encouragement? Live in the moment of creativity and enjoy the ride! And don't forget to share your project with us at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog!
Happy crafting!

Hello, crafters! I've been busy lately NOT crafting, but I had to show you my DT piece for Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. It's the 15th of the month, and Scribbles has a new challenge to offer you: Big Wheels Keep on Turning!My craft supplies are still packed up, so I created a digital card for my brother-in-law. I have used several digi images from the Scribbles Store:Truck, Sun, Cat, Carl, Tattoo Flower 2 & Birthday Cake Slice.The other elements of my digi card include papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles (Clouds 2 Patterned Paper and Pixel Scrapper KaleiDesigns (Back to Nature Paper 08 & Border 5). I used a font called Tall Marker for my sentiment.I hope I have inspired you to create, whether digitally or hand-crafted, and to link your project to the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digital images from the Scribbles Store!!Happy Crafting!

Monday, May 1, 2017

Happy May Day! Here in the US, while not the most popular holiday, we celebrate May Day and the true blossoming of Spring. And at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog, the challenge continues to be Shades of Spring.
I created a step-card using two cute digi images from the Scribbles store, #408 B Bunny Joy and #648 Heart Tulips. I wanted to show Spring exploding, so I printed Heart Tulips several times before fussy-cutting the images and adding them to the first two "steps" of my card. Between the bees and my Bunny Joy, the card looks like the bunny is jumping for joy over the Spring blooms. Of course, I had to use a sentiment to go with my theme. The sentiment in the back reads: "Ka-Bloom!"

I get so inspired by the digi images at Scribbles Designs. Check out the store and then add your own creation to the challenge for your chance to win free digis!